The “unofficial” but important ranking among the main experts leaves the Japanese at the top of the rankings.

Boxing is a special sport when it comes to choosing its number 1. Because of the difference between weight classes and the peculiarities in the match-making that often do not result in a dream fight, it is impossible to point out a number 1 that isn’t based on preference.

But if there is a symbolic ranking (although important) that matters it is that of the prestigious magazine ‘The Ring’. It points to a new number 1 and is backed by other experts: Naoya Inoue (27-0), is the pound-for-pound king. The ‘Monster’ who comes from the rising sun.

Inoue is the first Japanese to top the pound-for-pound charts. For ‘ESPN’, for example, he is second, but ‘The Ring’ is on another level as it has ranked fighters since 1924. The Japanese dominated Luis Nery at the Tokyo Dome and his show after falling in the first round to defend the super bantamweight belts puts him at the top of the world rankings.

‘The Monster’ is a big puncher about whom there has always been a shadow of doubt. He does not fight outside of Japan, which greatly reduces his market as he is far from the United States, the main market, and Saudi Arabia, the growing market.
And he does it during the week, in keeping with his country’s tradition. But, on the other side of the scale, he is active because he keeps asking for better rivals and keeps winning. Some people dream of seeing him fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis (29-0) at 130 pounds… although it still sounds like science fiction.

He outranks Terence Crawford (40-0), who claimed that spot after sweeping Errol Spence Jr. to unify at welterweight. However, ‘Bud’ will still have the ability to respond because he will meet Madrimov in August to become WBA super welterweight champion and has already been linked to a dream fight with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (61-2-2).

The Mexican, despite his victory over Jaime Munguía, doesn’t make the podium and is fourth behind Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, who will have the next big fight against Tyson Fury for the unification of the heavyweights. The top 10 is closed out by Artur Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol, Errol Spence, Gervonta Davis, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and Junto Nakatani.